Morphological characterization of the venom apparatus in the wolf spider Lycosa singoriensis (Laxmann, 1770)

The wolf spider Lycosa singoriensis (Laxmann, 1770) (Lycosidae: Araneae) is distributed throughout central and eastern Europe, including Russia, Kazakhistan and Turkey. This study describes the venom apparatus morphology of L. singoriensis through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Its structure follows the general architecture observed in other spiders. Generally, a venom apparatus is composed by a pair of venom glands and chelicerae. L. singoriensis chelicerae are robust and consist of a stout basis and a movable apical segment (fang). The fang rests in a groove on the basal segment that is covered by different types of hair. L. singoriensis venom glands present equal size and measure about 4 mm in length. Each gland is enclosed by irregular muscular layers

Mission-based hull-form and propeller optimization of a transom stern destroyer for best performance in the sea environment

An overview is presented of the activities conducted within the NATO STO Task Group AVT-204 to “Assess the Ability to Optimize Hull Forms of Sea Vehicles for the Best Per- formance in a Sea Environment.” The objective is the development of a greater understanding of the potential and limitations of the hydrodynamic optimization tools. These include low- and high-fidelity solvers, automatic shape modification methods, and multi-objective optimiza- tion algorithms, and are limited here to a deterministic application. The approach includes simulation-based design optimization methods from different research teams. Analysis tools include potential flow and Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equation solvers. Design modifica- tion tools include global modification functions, control point based methods, and parametric modelling by hull sections and basic curves. Optimization algorithms include particle swarm optimization, sequential quadratic programming, genetic and evolutionary algorithms. The ap- plication is the hull-form and propeller optimization of the DTMB 5415 model for significant conditions, based on actual missions at sea

Asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations are elevated in women with gestational diabetes

As shown in the previous studies, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is related to endothelial dysfunction, whereas high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hCRP) is the marker of inflammation. In our study, we investigated ADMA, hCRP, and homocysteine concentrations in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) during late pregnancy. Fifty-four women with GDM and 69 women with NGT between 32 and 39 weeks of gestation were included in this study. ADMA, hCRP, homocysteine, lipid parameters, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured. The plasma ADMA concentrations were significantly higher in GDM patients than in NGT subjects (P = 0.03) and the hCRP levels were also significantly increased in GDM group when compared with those in the NGT group (P = 0.008). However, plasma homocysteine levels did not differ between the groups (P = 0.4), while HOMA-IR, insulin, and triglyceride levels were higher in the GDM group than in the NGT group (P = 0.001, 0.002, and 0.02, respectively). The ADMA concentrations in the third trimester were positively correlated with the glucose levels the 50-g glucose challenge test (GCT) during 24-28 weeks in the whole group (r = 0.21, P = 0.02). Our results demonstrate that ADMA and hCRP are elevated in women with GDM during late pregnancy. Further studies are needed to clarify the significance and the underlying mechanisms of the elevated ADMA and hCRP levels in women with GDM. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Visfatin concentration is decreased in women with gestational diabetes mellitus in the third trimester

Our aim is to investigate visfatin concentration and its relationship to glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin resistance, lipid parameters, and neonatal birth weight in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In our study group, there were 47 women with GDM and 31 women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) between 33-39 weeks of gestation. Plasma visfatin levels were significantly decreased in pregnant women with GDM compared to those with NGT (p=0.001). Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were higher in the GDM group than in the NGT group (p=0.006). In all subjects, plasma visfatin levels were negatively correlated with HOMA-IR, post-prandial blood glucose, triglycerides, and VLDL cholesterol (p<0.05). We did not observe any statistically significant correlation between the plasma visfatin levels and the selected parameters in the GDM group, but in the NGT group plasma visfatin levels were negatively correlated with HOMA-IR (r=-0.36, p=0.04). There was no correlation between visfatin concentrations and fetal birth weight in either group (p>0.05). By regression analysis, having GDM was found to be the only significant determinant (t=3.5, p=0.001) of visfatin concentration (R=0.39, r2=0.15). We conclude that women with GDM have significantly decreased visfatin concentrations in the third trimester. Future studies are required to establish the exact role of visfatin in the pathogenesis of GDM. ©2008, Editrice Kurtis

Research gaps and future needs for allergen prediction in food safety

The allergenicity and protein risk assessments in food safety are facing new challenges. Demands for healthier and more sustainable food systems have led to significant advances in biotechnology, the development of more complex foods, and the search for alternative protein sources. All this has increased the pressure on the safety assessment prediction approaches anchored into requirements defined in the late 90's. In 2022, the EFSA's Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms published a scientific opinion focusing on the developments needed for allergenicity and protein safety assessments of new products derived from biotechnology. Here, we further elaborate on the main elements described in this scientific opinion and prioritize those development needs requiring critical attention. The starting point of any new recommendation would require a focus on clinical relevance and the development of a fit-for-purpose database targeted for specific risk assessment goals. Furthermore, it is imperative to review and clarify the main purpose of the allergenicity risk assessment. An internationally agreed consensus on the overall purpose of allergenicity risk assessment will accelerate the development of fit-for-purpose methodologies, where the role of exposure should be better clarified. Considering the experience gained over the last 25 years and recent scientific developments in the fields of biotechnology, allergy, and risk assessment, it is time to revise and improve the allergenicity safety assessment to ensure the reliability of allergenicity assessments for food of the future

Diseño e implementación de práctica para el Laboratorio de Comunicaciones 4

Describe una serie de prácticas de Laboratorio utilizando MATLAB y el dsPIC30F4013, para el Laboratorio de Comunicaciones 4 de la carrera de Ingeniería en Electrónic

Inferring the Regulatory Network of the miRNA-mediated Response to Biotic and Abiotic Stress in Melon

[EN] Background: MiRNAs have emerged as key regulators of stress response in plants, suggesting their potential as candidates for knock-in/out to improve stress tolerance in agricultural crops. Although diverse assays have been performed, systematic and detailed studies of miRNA expression and function during exposure to multiple environments in crops are limited. Results: Here, we present such pioneering analysis in melon plants in response to seven biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Deep-sequencing and computational approaches have identified twenty-four known miRNAs whose expression was significantly altered under at least one stress condition, observing that down-regulation was preponderant. Additionally, miRNA function was characterized by high scale degradome assays and quantitative RNA measurements over the intended target mRNAs, providing mechanistic insight. Clustering analysis provided evidence that eight miRNAs showed a broad response range under the stress conditions analyzed, whereas another eight miRNAs displayed a narrow response range. Transcription factors were predominantly targeted by stressresponsive miRNAs in melon. Furthermore, our results show that the miRNAs that are down-regulated upon stress predominantly have as targets genes that are known to participate in the stress response by the plant, whereas the miRNAs that are up-regulated control genes linked to development. Conclusion: Altogether, this high-resolution analysis of miRNA-target interactions, combining experimental and computational work, Illustrates the close interplay between miRNAs and the response to diverse environmental conditions, in melon.The authors thank Dr. A. Monforte for providing melon seeds and Dra. B. Pico (Cucurbits Group - COMAV) for providing melon seeds and Monosporascus isolate respectively. 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